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At D'Artagnan, fall= braising. Braising is comfort cooking at its finest. The long gentle braising process transforms modest cuts from tough, sinewy chunks to meltingly tender, luxurious bites swathed in velveteen sauce. It's the food equivalent to being wrapped in a warm blanket on a cold day and it's surprisingly easy.
And while you may be inclined to keep the voluptuous dishes all to yourself, braising is a great option for entertaining. With most of the hands-on work completed before the dish even goes into the oven there is ample time to spend with guests and as the braise cooks it warms your home with an enticing, rich perfume. A larger batch is no more work yet leaves enough for leftovers, no sharing required. Here are some of our braising basics.
There is really only one piece of special equipment needed for braising – the vessel. You should always use a high-quality, non-reactive, heavy pot with a tight-fitting lid. Your pot should be deep enough to hold all of your ingredients while allowing about two inches of space at the top for evaporation and condensation, or self-basting, as we like to call it. If in doubt, always go up a size. Some specialty pots have features that enhance this moisture up/moisture down process, like a cocotte which has small spikes on the underside of the lid allowing for continuous self-basting or a doufeu, a pot with a recessed lid to which you add ice to speed up condensation. These features are nice but often come with a hefty price tag. For basic braising, we recommend a simple Dutch oven made from enameled cast iron as it conducts and holds heat evenly and can be used to both brown the meat stovetop then finish braising in the oven for true one-pot cooking.
The long & short of it
There are two basic types of braising, short and long. Short braising, or cuisson à l'étuvée in French, is great for vegetables, small birds and lean, tender poultry such as chicken or rabbit. It's a fast process by which you quickly brown the ingredients in fat then add a flavorful liquid and barely simmer until just cooked through. The entire process is finished in less than an hour.
Long braising or, braisage, uses similar techniques but achieves something different entirely. Tough cuts of meat such as short ribs, shoulders, shanks and briskets are browned in fat then liquid and aromatics are added and the dish is cooked at very low temperature, staying below a simmer, for a long period of time. Cooking meat slow and low breaks down the sinewy connective tissue, first into collagen then melting into gelatin. The cooking liquid reduces becoming the accompanying rich and complex sauce.
Browning Basics
When browning meat for braising, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, never skip this step as browning the meat is an essential part of the braising process and your dish will lack flavor without it. Lean or tender cuts should be patted dry for a more intense browning effect. Fatty cuts should be dusted with flour pre-searing to develop a nice crust that will help to hold juices in. Heat your oil (duck fat works beautifully!) over high flame until quite hot then add your meat. Get the meat evenly brown and crusty on all sides. Be mindful not to crowd the pan, working in batches if necessary.]
Get Saucy!
The fork-tender meat may get top billing in braised dishes but the rich, luscious sauce is just as important. This long gentle method of cooking does most of the sauce work for you. There are some subtle tweaks you can make at the end of cooking to adjust the final product and really make your dish shine.
If your sauce is thinner than you'd like, simply move some of the liquid to a small saucepan and reduce over medium-high heat. When thickened, add back into the pot. If your sauce is too thick, add some hot broth or wine and simmer.
If you were over-generous with your seasoning, add a peeled potato or two during cooking. The starch will absorb a bit of the salt. Discard them before serving.
Not enough flavor? Add freshly chopped herbs, citrus zest or spices at the very end of cooking and offer a bit at the table for garnish.
Not enough body? At the end of cooking, shave in a small amount of bitter chocolate! It's a professional kitchen secret that few chefs will reveal. A light hand will yield spectacular results.
If your dish is too fatty, simply chill the whole pot in the refrigerator overnight. The fat will rise to the top and solidify making it easy to discard. The extra time allows the flavors to marry and concentrate too. If you're short on time, you can also let it rest for a half hour then skim the top with a shallow spoon.


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Another Yoda statue, Calif. Star Wars fans may get
SAN ANSELMO, Calif. (AP) — Star Wars fans may soon have another Yoda statue in the San Francisco Bay area to visit.
Filmmaker George Lucas plans to help build a small park in Marin County that would feature a bronze sculpture of the popular Star Wars character, along with one of Indiana Jones.
Lucas' estate manager, Sarita Patel, said the Yoda statue would be similar to one in San Francisco's Presidio neighborhood. That one — a full-sized replica of the Jedi sage — lies atop a fountain outside an arts center where Lucas moved most of his operations in 2005. It has become a big draw for fans.
Lucas applied for a permit Wednesday to demolish a building on the site of the planned park in San Anselmo, the town where he lives, the Marin Independent Journal reported (http://bit.ly/YsKH3u)
He announced over the summer that he planned to donate the land where the building sits to the San Anselmo Chamber of Commerce, and donate the statues for the proposed park. Lucas has since also agreed to pay for the building's demolition.
The chamber hopes to raise $150,000 to $200,000 to create the park.
San Anselmo Town Manager Debra Stutsman said the demolition application, which includes a historical analysis of the building, will be reviewed by the town's Planning Commission and Historical Commission.
The building, as well as a fresco inside, date back to 1945.
Patel said Lucas plans to donate the fresco to the Spanish consulate in San Francisco.
Lucas built his film operation in Marin County and had planned to put up a palatial new digital media production studio there. But he abandoned those plans earlier this year in the face of opposition from neighbors and what he said were delays in the approval process.


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I haven't posted in a while, because it's been kind of crazy and stressful here. Within the past month, we've put our condo on the market (hasn't sold yet), put an offer on a single family house in the city, and decided to switch our kids from their excellent but pricy private religious school to a highly regarded public school. Whew, that's a lot of changes!
My kids have learned so much this year, it's amazing. In second grade, my older daughter learned about pioneers. As part of the unit, they wrote a newspaper called "Pioneer Times." She was so proud to be working on a newspaper just like her Mom did, and she was thrilled to test the recipe for strawberry jam.
The class recipe for "Yummy Jam" comes right in time for peak strawberry season, and, of course, it's naturally gluten-free. Strawberries are plentiful now (Costco even has huge containers of organic strawberries), so you won't be breaking the bank to use four cups of berries for this recipe.
"Do you want to hear about a deeeeeeeeeelicious strawberry jam? Here's how we do it," the Room 204 pioneers write.
Homemade Strawberry Jam
(gluten-free, dairy-free, pareve, kid-friendly)
By Gluten-Free Nosh
printable recipe
- 4 cups strawberries, hulled and quartered
3 cups sugar
2 large Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and diced
- 1. Put all ingredients in a medium pot and bring to a boil, watching carefully. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer (so there are tiny bubbles on the surface) for one hour, stirring occasionally.
2. Transfer mixture to a blender and puree until smooth. To prevent spattering hot jam, work with small batches and use a potholder to hold the blender lid tightly closed.
3. Return mixture to pot and simmer for 30 minutes more.
4. Allow jam to cool, then store, covered, in the refrigerator.
Yield: 2 to 3 cups of jam
Note: For canning standards, see USDA Principles of Home Canning. Making the jam was easy, but, wow, the USDA's canning guidelines seem complicated. I did not use their standards, but I thought they were interesting, nonetheless.


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House votes to avoid federal shutdown
Obama makes a GOP dinner date
Republicans pushed legislation through the House on Wednesday to ease the short-term impact of $85 billion in spending cuts and prevent a government shutdown this month — at the same time previewing a longer-term plan to erase federal deficits without raising taxes.
President Barack Obama pursued a different path as the GOP asserted its budget priorities. He arranged to have dinner with several Republican senators in search of bipartisan support for a deficit-cutting approach that includes the higher taxes he seeks as well as savings from Medicare and other benefit programs that they stress.
Any such compromise talks are unlikely to yield fruit for months, if then, although Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, the author of the House Republican budget plan, expressed hope that some progress across party lines might be possible later in the year.
"I think this whole thing will come to a crescendo this summer, and we're going to have to talk to each other to get an agreement about how to delay a debt crisis, how to save this country from a fiscal train wreck that's coming," said Ryan, who was the Republicans' vice presidential candidate last year. He added that he had spoken with Obama in recent days, but he declined to provide details.
For now, the divided government's immediate objectives are to prevent a shutdown of federal agencies on March 27, at the same time lawmakers and the White House look for ways to ease the impact of across-the-board spending cuts that kicked in less than a week ago.
The legislation that cleared the House on a bipartisan vote of 267-151 would do both, ensuring funding through the Sept. 30 end of the budget year while granting the Pentagon and the Department of Veterans Affairs greater flexibility in implementing their share of short-term spending cuts.
"This is all about whether or not we shut down the government. This is a bill to keep the government operating," said Rep. Hal Rogers, the Kentucky Republican who chairs the House Appropriations Committee.
Minority Democrats appeared torn between a desire to support legislation to keep the government open and their goal of replacing at least half of the spending cuts with provisions to increase revenue.
"Instead of closing tax loopholes for corporate jets, they want to cut 4 million meals on wheels," the party's House leader, Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, said of Republicans.
The bill passed with the support of 53 Democrats, more than a quarter of those voting.
It now goes to the Senate, where Democrats and the White House are deep in negotiations with Republicans on changes that would give the Department of Homeland Security and other domestic agencies the same type of flexibility in administering the spending cuts that the Pentagon would receive.
The spending legislation was still pending on the House floor when Ryan began pulling back the curtain on his plan to eliminate deficits in 10 years. The government ran a deficit of more than $1 trillion for the past budget year, about $200 billion less than the year before, and the total federal debt is about $16 trillion.
To achieve his 10-year goal of producing a surplus, Ryan said he would incorporate the tax increases on the wealthy that Congress passed on Jan. 1 over the objections of many House Republicans. The hike translates into an estimated $600 billion or more in additional revenue to the government.
The Wisconsin Republican also intends to retain the $85 billion in spending cuts, which translate to a savings of $900 billion or more over a decade, and renew without significant changes a controversial proposal to overhaul Medicare.
Speaking of spending in general, he said, "We're making additional modest changes to get to balance."
Ryan had earlier floated the possibility of accelerating his Medicare proposal so it would apply to individuals currently older than 55.
Under pressure from some members of the rank and file, he decided against that — but drew criticism during the day from Democrats anyway.
"Every time they put in a budget, the first thing they do is ask seniors to sacrifice the most," said Rep. Steve Israel of New York, who heads the Democrats' campaign committee.
Ryan's Medicare plan would give future retirees a choice between enrolling in the existing program or a roster of private alternatives, although in any case they would receive a monthly check from the government to defray the cost and be responsible for the difference.
In its previous forms, the plan also capped the overall cost of the program.
Republicans say change is necessary in order to rescue Medicare from financial ruin as members of the post-World War II baby boom generation retire in large numbers. Democrats contend the plan would effectively end the guarantee of health care coverage that Medicare embodies by exposing seniors to prohibitively large cost increases.
Obama has proposed roughly $400 billion in savings over a decade from health care benefit programs, much of it from Medicare, but he has consistently rejected Ryan's approach.
Senate Democrats are drafting their own budget, expected to be made public next week. Officials have yet to say how large a deficit it envisions in a decade, but it will differ in significant ways from the Republican approach.
Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the Budget Committee chairman, has said she will replace the across-the-board cuts with a blend of spending reductions and tax increase, an approach Obama favors.
Other Democrats say she will follow Obama's lead on Medicare, setting up a contrast with Republicans that her party hopes to exploit in the 2014 elections.
Obama's own budget has been delayed repeatedly this year, and it is not clear if he intends to release it before the House and Senate hold their debates this month.
If the administration waits until April, it could avoid certain embarrassment at the hands of Republicans. It is a ritual of budget politics for the party out of power in the White House to demand a vote on the president's budget, knowing it will fail, sometimes ignominiously.


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Morning Pages
I've been sitting on my front porch in the early daylight hours sipping my one cup of hot coffee, writing my morning pages. Julia Cameron, of whom I am a big fan, says there should be three pages but I'm hard pressed to take the time for one or two. Once my coffee is gone, so am I. The pages of drivel seem to others to be a waste of time and paper. I figure I can shred the paper later and put it in the compost. Writing in the morning sorts out my mind. Since I am alone with no one else to bounce ideas and thoughts out, they reflect back off the paper. I get all the muddle out in front of me, make my list of possibilities for the day, then see how much of that I can bring to fruition.
No day goes exactly as planned. I can deviate so quickly by a turn in my step. Finding myself organizing my shed when all I wanted to do is find the fertilizer to finish watering my plants. Then the pain in my foot will bring me back to my original intention of getting the watering done before the heat descends.
Writing my morning pages is very different from what I write in my journal each night. Morning pages set intent for my day. My nightly journal page is a documentation of that day. Time, date and weather are included in both. Morning pages help me bring my intention into focus and clear my mind clutter. The nightly journal page, only one as I'm quite tired by then, helps off load my thoughts so I get a better night's sleep.
When my children were young, I began the practice of reading to each of them separately at night as there was quite the distance in age, then ask how their day had gone. That's the time when they would tell me anything that had troubled them or had been of particular delight. I was their nightly journal. Since both children have Dysgraphia, actual journal writing isn't something they do. But mom still asks at the end of their workday how it went. My daughter spills most on her Saturday visits and my son calls daily to make sure I'm still among the living. He knows he can still share the good and the troubling. If it's something big in need of working out, I still say, "WRITE IT OUT".
Like a piece of paper, I can fix nothing, just be the place to reflect back. Life is slower for me now. More solitude than many would find comfortable. Writing longhand on paper always clears things up in a way that writing on a computer does not.
There is scientific evidence of the brain to hand connection that does not exist with the computer. Long hand, free-flowing writing can unblock creativity and the next thing you know, you have a list of what can be done that day as well as a blog post all done for you. I may not be an artist but these books help unlock all kinds of creativity. Now I need to do another artists date. Hmmm.
Have you found the benefits of morning pages yet or journal writing at night?
From my heart to yours,
Marlene Herself


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BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) – Syfy network says Thomas Jane will star as a world-weary detective in an other-worldly thriller for the network.
In 'The Expanse,' Jane will play Detective Miller, a native of the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter two centuries in the future. He's put in charge of the investigation into a missing heiress. This 10-episode series, billed as a 'space opera,' is based on the best-selling book series by James S.A. Covey. It will premiere on Syfy in 2015.
Jane previously starred in the HBO series 'Hung.'
The announcement was made Monday at the summer television critics' meeting.


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Showing Collections: 1 - 1 of 1
Max C. Fleischmann College of Agriculture Records
Identifier: AC 0288
Abstract Records are arranged into three divisions, the College of Agriculture, the Cooperative Extension Service, and the Agricultural Experiment Station. Records include correspondence with the deans and directors of the divisions; correspondence with university presidents and county agents; information of the Newlands Project, and the Nevada Farm Bureau; project reports; information on personnel; budgets; experiment record books; letterpress books; photographs; maps and graphs. Also included are...
Dates: 1889-1965


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Princess R466-2
This immaculate Michael M engagement ring is displayed with a stunning radiant shaped center diamond (not included at time of purchase), and can fit an array of diamonds ranging in size from 1.85 carats to 2.10 carats. For information on this engagement ring and others, please consult your local authorized Michael M retailer. Additionally, we can set the diamond shapes with minor head modifications at no additional cost.
This Michael M engagement ring is immaculately adorned with over 1.06 carats total weight of breathtaking round cut side diamonds. Handpicked by a certified Michael M gemologist, each side stone has a minimum average color of G, a minimum average clarity of VS, and are all hand-placed in an elegant prong setting by one of Michael M's master artisans.
Crafted by the jewelry masters of Michael M, this engagement ring is made using exquisite 18-karat white gold of a breathtaking and peerless gleam and glow. White gold is long-lasting and resistant to tarnish, making it the perfect metal for accentuating the brilliant diamonds that adorn this piece.
For these reasons and more, this Michael M 18-karat white gold designer engagement ring is sure to satisfy any and all wearers, no matter how particular or distinctive.
Ring Size: Please note certain styles may increase in price due to size and design elements. Refer to the drop-down for the exact pricing for each style. For pricing on additional sizes reach out to us at firstname.lastname@example.com, or visit one of our Authorized Retailers.
Care: As part of our dedication to customers, we offer complimentary services including, cleaning and engraving touch-up. MICHAEL M does reserve the sole discretion to determine the services provided, subject to change.
Repair: MICHAEL M jewelry has been crafted to the highest standards and is warrantied against manufacturer defects for as long as the customer owns their jewelry. Each piece is accompanied by an authenticity card with a personalized serial number (DI) that identifies the piece. The warranty is valid only with the Authenticity Card and proof of purchase, so ensure your retailer provides this with purchase and that you register your jewelry with us so we can easily assist you.
Maintenance and repairs of imperfections from the manufacturer will be done free of charge but must be done by an authorized MICHAEL M retailer. If these conditions are not met, the Lifetime Warranty will be void.


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Shipping Greece.
4,50€ Courier No CAD Charges.
❤We Don't Do Fashion ❤ We Are Fashion❤
❗New Modern Collection Summer 2023❗
Short transparent black socks with nice design back. Sexy! Stretch fabric. Wear it daily!
Material : 94% Polyamide, 6% Elastan.
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Please always consult the product descriptions on the pages.
* All figures in our products are manufactured and adapted to European Union standards. Our lines are 3/4, modern and similar to Greek fashion companies. In case a code is observed to have a narrow or wide fit it will be mentioned in the description (dresses, shoes, etc.).
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We do not post a size chart as we are strongly opposed to posting a general one that you usually post on everything, for example on clothes with a measurement deviation of 2-6 cm. We are available to tell you exactly the size of any product, please call us or email us with the code. We will be happy to serve you!
* The colors of the photos in our products are 95% and more real as the photos are taken by professional photographers and professional cameras. Some are even in 4K quality. If there is any difference in the product it will be indicated. Only if your screen resolution is old or set wrong will it make a difference.
Online selected clothes, shoes, lingerie and accessories in our fashion eshop, from the best factories in the world. Quality tested! With perfect fit. New arrivals every week for the woman who wants to stay up to date on fashion!
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*Parcel Opening video is must to claim if any issues
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Expected Delivery in 7 - 15 days
Tracking will be updated after 3 days of order. If product not received within 5 to 6 working days, do inform us.
Exclusive collections of Banarasi silk sarees online at Viraja Fashionista
Black and aqua green banarasi semi pure silk georgette chiffon kariyal weaved sarees with running blouse.
Length: 6.3 mts
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Dispatch time: 7 working days
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Add this to your bucket list: Watching a U.S. presidential election from somewhere other than the States. On Tuesday night I was about 40 miles from the border, in Vancouver, watching the election returns with Democrat ex-pats. (The party affiliation was an inevitability, as there are virtually no Republicans in Vancouver. A right-leaning fellow Arkansan who has lived here for 10 years told me this week he knew of none.) Having to explain American elections to furrners forces you to explain them to yourself. That is as hard as it sounds.
Canadians at large marvel that Americans still bicker over same-sex marriage, abortion rights, religiosity in governing, the validity of evolution and the right to hoard handguns. Democrats, who do not see themselves as playing offense on any of those national squabbles, find comfort in a place like Vancouver, where single-payer health insurance runs $64 a month and the scent of freshly burnt marijuana garnishes the downtown air. Freedom takes many forms in life, including the freedom from worry that a broken arm would bankrupt you and freedom from hassle over petty shit like burning a roach on your way home from work, as you'll see folks do at bus stops here.
When the returns started pouring in Tuesday night, there was a palpable sense of shift, and it was one that jived with that big-D Democratic definition of freedom. I met a small-town Mainer who left for Seattle and subsequently for Vancouver when she realized, in her late teens, that she was gay. She stepped out for a smoke break and missed big news; when she returned, I got to tell her that voters had approved same-sex marriage in both Maine and Maryland, thanks be to Kluwe.
The people who gathered to watch the returns at an Irish pub off Granville Street knew America from the inside but were observing it from the outside. It's a different variety of love for country that develops in that bubble, a present-tense nostalgia that makes something as tidal as an election feel almost as intimate as a letter from home. Hey, it's your country here. Things are going well. This democracy's still a jalopy but history rolls downhill, fortunately. How's life abroad?
When the networks called the election for Obama, I bought a round of beers for the Canadians at my table. Miller Lites. 'Mericuh, simple, clean and cheap. But that's not the beer of the week. In honor of cross-cultural something or other, this week we're drinking a maize-colored Quebecois brew called La Fin Du Monde. My French is sub-dreadful, but I'm pretty sure that's "the end of the world." If you had just one beer to take with you there, this might be it.
A 9 percent abv ale by Unibroue, it fizzes up with a chipper white head when you pour it from its cavernous 750 ml bottle. The gas escapes quickly and the bubbles pop in no time. What you're left with is a beer that contains traces of just about every flavor that makes beer fun to drink: cloves, malt, lemon peel, plums, grass, bread, spices. The high alcohol gives it a friendly burn. It's sweet without tasting like something you should be pawning off on the kids. The Beverage Tasting Institute (a drink tank?) notices a "mossy earth finish" and awards it 96 points. That's pointy, for a beer.
I don't know where you find this beer in the States. The first time I had it was on a trip to Montreal. I bought it because its label is a glowing map of Quebec, and I was nothing near sorry for picking it based on a sticker. (Canadians know Quebec as a haven of great beers, many of which never are sold outside Quebec, perhaps because brewers in Quebec don't want to demean themselves with a bilingual (read: English-also) label.) You should do a bit of homework and track it down, wherever your thirst lives. Use it to toast a country that toasted America this week, even if that country is a land of atheistic, bong-sucking sodomites who flaunt God's mysterious plans by thwarting poor people's cancers and teaching horny teenagers about contraception. Canada. Who do they think they are.
Beer-game pairings
Falcons at Saints, with New Orleans a 1-point dog at home. The cork on this beer makes the same satisfying popping sound that the 1972 Dolphins' champagne corks are liable to make Sunday afternoon. The Cowboys at the Eagles, about which no one would care, except that it's the Cowboys and the Eagles. And because racin' is almost over, the Sprint Cup Series at Phoenix, in which there's still time to beat Jimmie Johnson.


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Transplant and Pulmonary Hypertension
Financing a Lung Transplant
Lung transplants can be a great financial burden. There are a variety of medical and non-medical costs associated with the transplant process including pre-transplant evaluation and testing, surgery, follow-up care and testing fees, rehabilitation, food, lodging and travel expenses if you must relocate near the transplant center, child care and lost wages if your employer doesn't pay for the time you or family members spend away from work. While your social worker and financial coordinator will help you understand how you can best afford these costs, the following is some helpful information to clarify the process.
The first thing to come to terms with is that lung transplants are very expensive procedures. Each institution establishes its own price for transplant surgery. Costs can also include non-medical costs associated with transplant (i.e. transportation, lodging, etc.).
There are several sources of funding that patients typically turn to in order to fund their transplant:
- Private insurance
- Medicare/Medicaid
- Prescription drug assistance programs
- The Veterans Administration
- Charitable organizations
- Advocacy groups
- Fundraising campaigns
Private Insurance
If you have private insurance through an employer or personal policy, read your policy carefully to understand the terms and benefits regarding transplants. Contact your insurance company if you have any questions, and keep a log of any conversation you have with your insurance representative or the hospital billing office. If you still have questions after speaking with the insurance company, contact your state insurance commissioner.
Though your insurance will cover some of the costs of transplant, you will still be responsible for deductibles, co-pays, or any charges that exceed your insurance "cap" (the maximum amount of money an insurance company will pay in a lifetime, a year, or for a certain procedure). Be sure to pay your insurance premiums on time so that you do not lose your insurance.
Tips for dealing with your insurance company:
- Make sure that you read and understand your policy.
- Contact your insurance company, financial coordinator and/or state insurance commissioner if you have any questions.
- Keep your premium payments up to date and follow the rules of your insurance company to avoid a lapse or loss of insurance.
- If your transplant center asks you to be involved in any experimental procedures or studies, be sure to ask your insurance company if your policy will cover the payment.
- Keep copies of all medical bills, insurance forms and payments.
- Ask your insurance company about pre-certification or using a specific provider.
- Make sure to keep your transplant center informed about your insurance, particularly if you have more than one insurance company.
- Always keep a log of your conversations with your insurance company or anyone in the hospital's billing office.
Medicare does not always pay all of your medical expenses; payment is based according to a set fee, which may be less than the actual cost of the transplant. Therefore, patients covered by Medicare will be required to pay deductibles, co-pays and various other expenses. A private insurance policy, called a supplemental or "Medigap" policy can help cover some of the expenses that Medicare does not cover.
To receive full Medicare benefits for a transplant, your transplant center must be a Medicare-approved facility that meets certain standards. If you have questions about the type of Medicare coverage that you have or how Medicare can help pay transplant expenses, you can call the Medicare hotline at 1-800-633-4227 or visit Medicare online.
- Medicare Part A covers certain lung and heart/lung transplants in Medicare-approved facilities, as well as inpatient hospital care and some home healthcare.
- Medicare Part B covers doctors' services, outpatient hospital care and anti-rejection drugs.
- Medicare Part D can help pay for prescription drugs not covered by Part A or B.
A full list of what is covered by each Medicare plan is available on the Medicare website.
Prescription Drug Assistance Programs
Many drug companies provide medications for patients who are financially needy. A full directory is available on the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) website.
The Veterans Administration
You may be eligible for VA benefits if you have been honorably discharged from the military. If you first became ill while in the service or are indigent, you may be eligible to receive a transplant at a VA medical center. To find out if you qualify contact your local veterans hospital or VA office.
Additionally, TRICARE is a regionally managed program for active duty and retired members of the uniformed services, their families and survivors. In order to receive benefits, you must be pre-authorized by your regional TRICARE. To do so, your transplant physician must submit a summary to the TRICARE office. TRICARE may help cover lung and heart/lung transplants. For more information call 303-676-3526 or visit TRICARE's website.
Advocacy Groups & Charitable Organizations
Some advocacy groups and charitable organizations provide limited financial assistance to transplant patients through grants and direct funding. These groups provide other aid as well, including information, patient support and help in dealing with insurance companies. A list of organizations that may be able to provide some financial assistance to transplant patients and their families is available online.
Fundraising Campaigns
Some transplant patients carry out fundraising campaigns as a source of financing. Use caution if you do this; if you are on Medicaid, for example, donated money may be counted as income and disqualify you for Medicaid coverage. You should establish a trust fund or special account to put donated money into. Check all legal requirements in advance by contacting city and county governments and consulting with a legal adviser. Once you are ready to seek donations, consider contacting local newspapers and radio or television stations. Enlist the support of local merchants and other sponsors to promote or contribute to your events.


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Superstorm Aid_2_2.JPG
Crews work work to replace the Superstorm Sandy destroyed boardwalk in Seaside Heights, N.J., on Jan. 3. Under intense pressure from angry Republicans, House Speaker John Boehner has agreed to a vote Friday on aid for Superstorm Sandy recovery.
(AP Photo/Mel Evans)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A $9.7 billion measure to pay flood insurance claims is set for a vote in Congress, boosting prospects for relief for the many home and business owners flooded out by Superstorm Sandy.
If the House, as expected, approves the flood insurance proposal on Friday, the Senate plans to follow with a likely uncontested vote later in the day.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency warns that the National Flood Insurance Program will run out of money next week if Congress doesn't provide additional borrowing authority to pay out claims. Congress created the FEMA-run program in 1968 because few private insurers cover flood damage.
Northeast lawmakers say the money is urgently needed for storm victims awaiting claim checks from the late October storm, which was one of the worst ever to strike the Northeast, ravaging the coast from North Carolina to Maine, with the most severe flooding occurring in Atlantic City, N.J., New York City and Long Island and along the Connecticut coastline.
"People are waiting to be paid," said Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-N.J., whose district includes Atlantic City and many other coastal communities hard hit by the storm. "They're sleeping in rented rooms on cots somewhere and they're not happy. They want to get their lives back on track and it's cold outside. They see no prospect of relief."
House Speaker John Boehner promised a House vote on Friday after his decision to delay an action on a broader Sandy relief package provoked outrage from Northeast Republicans, including New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who said he'd lost trust in GOP leaders in Congress after being promised a vote earlier this week.
About 140,000 Sandy-related flood insurance claims have been filed, FEMA officials said, and most have yet to be closed out. Many flood victims have only received partial payments on their claims.
Philip Rock has received $8,000 in flood insurance payments so far but said he is awaiting a statement on the final amount, which he expects to be much more. A house he owns in Toms River, N.J., had a $220,000 flood insurance policy. The house, which he rents out, was destroyed, and he needs to know the final payout before he can demolish it.
The house is a "total loss," Rock said. "We don't want to demolish the house and have them say, `We have to go around and take more pictures.'"
New York, New Jersey and Connecticut were the states hardest hit by the storm in terms of damage from high winds, flooding and storm surges. The storm damaged or destroyed more than 72,000 homes and businesses in New Jersey. In New York, 305,000 housing units were damaged or destroyed and more than 265,000 businesses were affected.
The flood insurance measure is the first phase of a proposed Sandy aid package. Under Boehner's new schedule, the House will vote Jan. 15 on an additional $51 billion in recovery money. Senate action on that measure is expected the following week. Fiscally pressured local governments are awaiting that money.
"This funding will give the city and state the much-needed resources to rebuild our damaged infrastructure and provide further aid to individuals and small businesses struggling to pick up the pieces of their lives," said Rep. Michael Grimm, R-N.Y., whose district includes Staten Island, one of New York's hardest-hit areas.
Sandy was the most costly natural disaster since Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and was blamed for at least 120 deaths. Northeast lawmakers have complained that it took just 10 days for Congress to approve about $50 billion in aid for Katrina but that it hasn't provided aid for Sandy relief in more than two months.
"States and local communities need to know the money will be there before they can give a green light to start rebuilding," said LoBiondo.
More than $2 billion in federal money has been spent so far on relief efforts for 11 states and the District of Columbia struck by the storm. New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, New Hampshire, Delaware, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and the District of Columbia are receiving FEMA aid.


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A movie about the 1979 Iran hostage crisis probably doesn't sound like it would be a laugh riot — or should be — but that's just one of the many ways in which "Argo" is a glorious, gripping surprise.
Directing his third feature, Ben Affleck has come up with a seamless blend of detailed international drama and breathtaking suspense, with just the right amount of dry humor to provide context and levity. He shows a deft handling of tone, especially in making difficult transitions between scenes in Tehran, Washington and Hollywood, but also gives one of his strongest performances yet in front of the camera as the star of the film.
It's exciting to see the confidence with which Affleck expands his ambition and scope as a filmmaker. His first two movies, "Gone Baby Gone" (2007) and "The Town" (2010), were both smart and suspenseful, but both were intimate crime thrillers set within the familiarity of his hometown of Boston. "Argo" reveals his further mastery of pacing and storytelling, even as he juggles complicated set pieces, various locations and a cast featuring 120 speaking parts.
Impossible but true
And the story he's telling sounds impossible, but it's absolutely true (with a few third-act tweaks to magnify the drama). Finally declassified in 1997, the daring rescue mission depicted here still didn't make a huge splash even then. (Chris Terrio's intelligent script is based on a selection from "The Master of Disguise" by Antonio J. Mendez and the Wired magazine article "The Great Escape" by Joshuah Bearman.) It's a fascinating tale of bravery, international friendship and plain old moxie, one that's serious-minded but crowd-pleasing.
DIRECTED BY: Ben Affleck
STARRING: Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston and John Goodman
RUNNING TIME: 120 minutes
Affleck cleverly foreshadows the Hollywood angle with a prelude told in storyboard form, efficiently providing background on the mounting dissent in Iran over the United States' sympathetic stance toward the shah. When protestors stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran — re-created here frighteningly, viscerally — 52 people became hostages for the first of 444 days. But six employees sneaked out a back door and sought refuge at the home of Canadian Ambassador Ken Taylor (Victor Garber).
They became known as "the houseguests," and with each passing week they spent there, their safety was in increasing danger. Surely their absence would be discovered, with deadly consequences not just for them but for their Canadian allies. Someone had to get them out . . . but how?
Enter Tony Mendez, a longtime CIA operative who specialized in such rescues — only he had never had an assignment this perilous before. With the long, shaggy hair and full beard of the era (which makes him a dead ringer for Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters), Affleck plays the part of the quiet, world-weary force who comes up with the craziest of schemes.
Mendez would fly to Tehran under a false name and pretend he had come there with the six U.S. officials. They would all pose as a film crew scouting locations for a sci-fi action flick called "Argo." With fake passports in hand (provided by the cooperative Canadian government), they would walk right out the front door, get on a plane to Switzerland and fly home to safety. As Mendez's boss at the CIA (a commanding Bryan Cranston) puts it, "This is the best bad idea we have."
It could all go wrong at any second, of course, with the capriciousness of those in power creating a dangerous variable. But the Americans had to know their parts inside and out, and the film at least had to look real enough to fool people — and for that, Mendez turns to an old friend, makeup artist John Chambers (John Goodman, with a wonderful mix of warmth and sarcasm). Chambers in turn hooks him up with veteran Hollywood producer Lester Siegel (a hilariously no-nonsense Alan Arkin), who puts the wheels in motion to give "Argo" the necessary authenticity: big ads in the trades, a production office on the Warner Bros. lot, even the media circus of a script read-through.
Inside joke
A cheesy "Star Wars" rip-off, "Argo" would have been total schlock if it had actually seen the light of day, and that's a major source of humor that's inside-Hollywood without being alienating. As Siegel says, if he's going to make a fake movie, "it's going to be a fake hit."
Working with a top-notch production team, including cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto and composer Alexandre Desplat, Affleck creates a vivid '70s vibe while moving fluidly between these intersecting storylines. While steeped in the trends and filmmaking style of the decade, "Argo" still feels immediate and relevant. Affleck's best film yet is also one of the best films of the year.
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In the end, it was no contest.
After a back and forth month in which both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson made strong runs at first place in the presidents race standings, back-to-back repeat champion Abraham Lincoln held off all challengers in the final race of the season, pulling away for a convincing victory and claiming the presidents race title for the third year in a row.
More importantly, the race marked the fifth straight season of futility for #26, Teddy Roosevelt, who failed to deliver in the final home game for Nationals president Stan Kasten, the aleged architect of the anti-Teddy conspiracy.
No sooner had Nationals mascot Screech declared Lincoln the winner, when he joined the presidents in holding up signs of appreciation for Kasten, who announced last week that he would be leaving the team at the end of the season.
During his five year tenure with the Nationals, Kasten has been both praised and criticized for his marketing of the team and the Nationals Park experience, including the now-famous 4th-inning presidents race. A Nationals Park farewell tribute was punctuated by a presentation of cupcakes to Kasten by Teddy Roosevelt.
The racing presidents will carry some compelling story lines into the off season. After three straight titles, is it fair now to declare this a presidents race dynasty for the Great Emancipator? With Kasten departing, will we see the team take a tougher stance on Abe's cheating? Most importantly, with new management in place, will 2011 be the year the Nationals finally let Teddy win?
Video courtesy of YouTube member lfahome (whose video of Tuesday's race was featured tonight on ESPN)


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In The Bleak Midwinter
Posted on December 4, 2014, in Traditional Catholicism. Bookmark the permalink. 2 Comments.
Posted by Mundabor
Posted on December 4, 2014, in Traditional Catholicism. Bookmark the permalink. 2 Comments.
One of my favorite Christmas songs. In whatever church I was organist/choir directress, I always taught this piece. It is very moving. Thank you for posting it. God bless you for all you do, Mundabor.
Thanks, and welcome!
"What Catholics once were, we are. If we are wrong, then Catholics through the ages have been wrong.
We are what you once were. We believe what you once believed.
We worship as you once worshipped. If we are wrong now, you were wrong then. If you were right then, we are right now".
Robert DePiante
Ego vero Evangelio non crederem, nisi me catholicae Ecclesiae commoveret auctoritas.
Truly, I would not believe the Gospel unless the authority of the Catholic Church impressed me.
St Augustine: Contra epistolam Manichaei 5.6
"I am worried by the Blessed Virgin's messages to Lucy of Fatima. This persistence of Mary about the dangers which menace the Church is a divine warning against the suicide of altering the Faith, in Her liturgy, Her theology and Her soul. … I hear all around me innovators who wish to dismantle the Sacred Chapel, destroy the universal flame of the Church, reject Her ornaments and make Her feel remorse for Her historical past.
"A day will come when the civilized world will deny its God, when the Church will doubt as Peter doubted. She will be tempted to believe that man has become God. In our churches, Christians will search in vain for the red lamp where God awaits them. Like Mary Magdalene, weeping before the empty tomb, they will ask, 'Where have they taken Him?'"
Eugenio Pacelli, future Pius XII.
Roche, "Pie XII Devant L'Historie", p. 52-53
The modern world will accept no dogmas upon any authority; but it will accept any dogmas on no authority. Say that a thing is so, according to the Pope or the Bible, and it will be dismissed as a superstition without examination. But preface your remark merely with "they say" or "don't you know that?" or try (and fail) to remember the name of some professor mentioned in some newspaper; and the keen rationalism of the modern mind will accept every word you say.
The world is what the saints and the prophets saw it was; it is not merely getting better or merely getting worse; there is one thing that the world does; it wobbles. Left to itself, it does not get anywhere; though if helped by real reformers of the right religion and philosophy, it may get better in many respects, and sometimes for considerable periods. But in itself it is not a progress; it is not even a process; it is the fashion of this world that passeth away. Life in itself is not a ladder; it is a see-saw.
"Tradition means giving votes to the most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead. Tradition refuses to submit to the small and arrogant oligarchy of those who merely happen to be walking about."
"NOW THEREFORE, I, RONALD REAGAN, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim and declare the unalienable Personhood of every American, from the moment of conception until natural death, and I do proclaim, ordain, and declare that I will take care that the Constitution and laws of the United States are faithfully executed for the protection of America's unborn children. Upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution, I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind and the gracious favor of Almighty God. I also proclaim Sunday, January 17, 1988, as a national Sanctity of Human Life Day. I call upon the citizens of this blessed land to gather on that day in their homes and places of worship to give thanks for the gift of life they enjoy and to reaffirm their commitment to the dignity of every human being and sanctity of every human life".
Ronald Reagan
Presidential Proclamation of "National Sanctity of Human Life Day", January 14, 1988
"All human life is a gift from our creator that is sacred, unique and worthy of protection. On National Sanctity of Human Life Day, our country recognizes that each person, including every person waiting to be born, has a special place and purpose in this world". [...]
"The most basic duty of government is to protect the life of the innocent. [...]
"The sanctity of life is written in the hearts of all men and women. On this day and throughout the year, we aspire to build a society in which every child is welcome in life and protected in law. We also encourage more of our fellow Americans to join our just and noble cause. History tells us that with a cause rooted in our deepest principles and appealing to the best instincts of our citizens, we will prevail."
George W. Bush
Presidential proclamation of "National Sanctity of Human Life Day", January 18, 2009


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Front Runners List: Click to see list completion progress by climbers that log their climbs using Peakbagger.com.
Compare Climbers: Click to compare ascents of up to 5 climbers working on this list.
This list combines the Appalachian Mountain Club's New England 4000-footer list, the Adirondack 46er list, and the two Catskill 4000-foot summits to create what is, in theory, a master list of Northeast USA 4000-foot peaks.
But this list is really an aesthetic disaster. The AMC lists have changed over time to reflect new survey elevations, and at one point this list was called the "Northeast 111" prior to the promotion of 4 summits in ME and NH to 4000-footer status over the past couple decades. And despite the goal of the AMC to use a strict prominence cutoff, there remain at least two inconsistencies with the contour maps. However, the AMC lists are nothing like the infamous 46er list, which has not changed since the 1930s and remains stuck in a time warp, despite many changes in peak elevations. So the "Northeast 115" list is a mixture of apples and oranges.
However, this list does combine two very popular and historically significant lists into one, and it remains a well-known yardstick for serious Northeastern peakbaggers.
Using a strict, consistent, contour-map based prominence cutoff for peaks, this list of Northeast 4000-footers shows 109 peaks. 68 are in New England, matching closely the 67 on the AMC list (the AMC does not include the Mansfield Nose or Guyot, but does include South Hancock). But only 39 of the 46ers are now over 4000 feet and have 160 feet of clean prominence based on the latest maps.
= Peak with Rank #1 on List;   = Other Peaks
This page has been served 1614773 times since 2004-11-01.


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Dear Esquire Magazine --
I get it, by the way, that Shane kinda peaked in 2009 after the "success" of Jesus for President and Becoming the Answer to our Prayers, and he was on a somewhat-perpetual mission of self-promotion at that time between all the time he was spending with the poor. So getting him to write an open letter "To all my nonbelieving, sort-of-believing, and used-to-be-believing friends" probably wasn't very hard. Zondervan probably helped him get the gig because that's what publishers do.
At this point, I'm sure someone else would want to take apart Shane's letter for all its broad and narrow mistakes -- and it has plenty. His reading of the parables of Jesus or of John 3 leave a considerable amount to be desired from a purely-Christian standpoint. I mean: these are Christian stories, and one hopes that when someone tells them they will at least get them right from a foundational point of view even if they then jump off them to some other use.
But I'll be honest: I think you guys did something out of character, and I'm trying to figure out why.
Here's the basic story of Shane's letter:
- He's sorry that some Christians are so mean.
- He's not one of those because Jesus is not one of those.
- He loves you the way Jesus loves you.
- Everyone jump up on the Peace Train. E-ya-Ee-ya-ooh-ah! Jesus says you don't have to be mean.
- And God is not going to send anyone to Hell -- or at least we should hope so.
See: your magazine is about looking a certain way, looking at women a certain way, and thinking about things that, if you say them the right way, will get women to look at you a certain way. (cf. paragraph 1) There's not really the weight of ethical (let alone moral) bedrock under your magazine's periodical efforts. So to let Shane out of the box here with a message that says, in a very simple way, "don't be mean because God isn't mean," seems to scrub the fur of the hair of the dog the wrong way.
You guys couldn't care less about "mean". You probably enjoyed Shane making fun of the street preacher he witnessed while strolling in downtown Philly (ministering to the poor who were out on a date, I am sure), and enjoyed his shots at radio and TV messages by Christians, and the hackneyed Gandhi quote, but when he gets to the part about peace, patience, kindness, joy and love, did it strike any of you as somewhat ironic that one has to divert one's eyes from the link to "Women We Love Gallery" to read further? We can take it for granted that you didn't force anyone into sex slavery to fill that gallery, but is it really actually kind to pose women half-naked in order to drive traffic to your site and sell ad space in your magazine?
It's a living, I am sure, but is it actually any better than the fellow with the coffin and the mic Shane was so exercised over? At least the body that guy was treating like a sideshow attraction was a mock-up, and he wasn't rolling people for $18 for 33 issues of more of the same. Even if his method is a little impolite, his intention wasn't to make people more-likely to treat your daughter like a menu, or worse.
So why publish a letter from a guy like Shane Claiborne about how nice Christianity intends us to be? It seems to me that you could have had only one logical reason: you see his message as disposable. It runs in the same circle as the 10 essential truths of Men's Style, and your reading list which includes once-relevant items like Charles Bukowski's Women and Nick Tosches' Dino. Shane's idea of "nice" may offend the fundies and the TV evangelists, but it can't offend the libertine or the boozie hipster. In fact, it is marginally-admirable to them, an ideal which they can smell of and taste like a stick of gum which they hope will cover over the vaporous funk of what else they have been ingesting.
So all that said, I don't have a book to sell, and I don't have a hipster pretension to being some kind of post-medieval white rasta monk. I have a house in suburbia in the Bible belt, and I work a day job in renewable energy. I drive a decent silver sedan. My kids each have their own dogs, and I pay a mortgage. I am married to my one and only wife. But I have a series of 5 messages all about the length of Shane's, and they are about the problem that Christ poses for all kinds of people: conservatives, liberals, rich people, poor people, educated people, fashionable people, etc. If you're interested in more filler which will be even more edgy than Shane's letter, I'm game if you are.
Think about it, and as you do, also think about the kind of world we must live in where half-naked women and a message about being nice (not judgmental or even morally-refined) will co-exist without any raised eyebrows. That's a weird world to say the least, and your dirty little magazine has helped make it possible.
I hope you consider that good work, since it is your own. If not, perhaps we could talk about what good work looks like. I'd enjoy it, and I think you would, too.


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On Friday afternoon, an influential group representing conservative Republicans in the House of Representatives released a shockingly sensible memo calling for sweeping reforms of the nation's copyright laws. But less than 24 hours later, the group's executive director, Paul Teller, issued a statement saying he was recalling the memo because it had been "published without adequate review."
The Republican Study Committee is a caucus consisting of more than 160 conservative Republicans in the House of Representatives—a majority of that party's House members. It acts as an internal think tank for the group, developing policy proposals and providing intellectual support for conservative positions. Hence, an RSC endorsement of sweeping reforms to the nation's copyright laws would be a watershed moment in the national copyright debate.
The memo, titled "Three Myths about Copyright Law and Where to Start to Fix it," is a direct assault on the relentlessly pro-copyright worldview dominating Washington for decades. "Most legislative discussions on this topic are not premised upon what is in the public good or what will promote the most productivity and innovation, but rather what the content creators 'deserve' or are 'entitled to' by virtue of their creation," the memo says. That's a problem, it argues, because the Constitution says the point of copyright is to "promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts"—not merely to line the pockets of incumbent copyright holders.
The memo also contends "copyright violates nearly every tenet of laissez-faire capitalism," granting content producers a "guaranteed, government instituted, government subsidized content monopoly." Excessive copyright protection, it claims, "leads to what economists call 'rent-seeking' which is effectively non-productive behavior that sucks economic productivity and potential from the overall economy."
The memo concludes with policy recommendations, and it reads like a copyright reformer's wish list. It calls for reducing statutory damages, which under current law can go as high as $150,000 per infringement. It advocates expanded fair use and penalties for false copyright claims. And it proposes a complex new scheme for copyright renewals that would reduce the maximum term of copyright to 46 years. Under current law, copyright protection for individual authors lasts for the life of the author plus another 70 years.
Generation gap
How did such a sensible document emerge from one of the most powerful groups on Capitol Hill? The memo was authored by a young Republican Study Committee staffer, Derek Khanna. Khanna has been active in Republican politics since high school. He studied the Middle East, political science, and history at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and, after graduation, he landed a job working for Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA). In January, he shifted to the Republican Study Committee, where he has focused on cyber-security, homeland security, and government oversight.
Khanna has exactly the kind of resume you'd expect for someone with tech-savvy views on copyright law. He lists "C++, Backtrack, Python, Sql, Java, Dreamweaver/Photoshop, statistical modeling," as interests, as well as "building computers and beta testing software." Best of all, Khanna tells us that he's an "avid reader" of Ars Technica.
The significance of Khanna's memo is best understood in the light of January's defeat of the Stop Online Piracy Act. As we pointed out shortly after SOPA's defeat, Hollywood long enjoyed closer ties to Democrats than Republicans. And that greater affinity was reflected in the asymmetrical reaction to the SOPA protests. Republican members of Congress who had co-sponsored SOPA (or its Senate companion, the Protect IP Act) quickly withdrew as sponsors. But most Democratic co-sponsors remained stalwart Hollywood allies, refusing to renounce the legislation.
The defeat of SOPA was overwhelmingly the work of Khanna's generation. Thousands of youthful redditors and Wikipedians called their representatives in Congress. Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX)—who is no spring chicken himself but boasts an army of youthful supporters—was one of the first Republicans to declare his opposition to SOPA.
But if the release of the RSC memo on Friday signaled a continued interest in copyright reform among young Republicans, the older generation reasserted its authority Saturday afternoon. "We at the RSC take pride in providing informative analysis of major policy issues and pending legislation that accounts for the range of perspectives held by RSC Members and within the conservative community," RSC executive director Paul Teller wrote in an e-mail to RSC members. "Yesterday you received a Policy Brief on copyright law that was published without adequate review within the RSC and failed to meet that standard. Copyright reform would have far-reaching impacts, so it is incredibly important that it be approached with all facts and viewpoints in hand."
Lobbyist pressure
"The RSC issues a lot of memos," a source with knowledge of the RSC's operations told Ars. "They're a small shop" with a lot of issues on their plate. Our source didn't think the memo reflected a sea change in the views of Republican members of Congress. But he said the fact Khanna was able to get his memo through the RSC's vetting process suggested there was sympathy for his views at least within the RSC staff.
The source told us content industry lobbyists exerted pressure on RSC leadership to repudiate the memo.
Khanna's memo has received widespread (and overwhelmingly positive) attention from the tech blogosphere. And our source suggested that could cause Republicans to take a second look at Khanna's ideas. "Republicans may see this as an indication that there's something to be gained by working on this issue," he told us.
Other observers agree. "Embracing Internet culture and copyright reform may be one of the easiest things we can do to win over young voters," tweeted Patrick Ruffini, a prominent Republican operative. And the primary downside would be alienating Hollywood, an interest group that has never cared much for Republicans anyway.
Update: A spokesman for the RSC comments:
On issues where there are several different perspectives among our members, our Policy Briefs should reflect that. This Policy Brief presented one view among conservatives on U.S. copyright law. Due to an oversight in our review process, it did not account for the full range of perspectives among our members. It was removed from the website to address that concern.
I know some want to point fingers elsewhere, but the simple fact is that we screwed up, we admitted it, and we hope people will now use this opportunity to engage in polite and serious discussion of copyright law.


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Jason Farmer: Not happy with Hall of Fame results
I understand the way Wednesday's Hall of Fame vote went. I really do, but that doesn't mean I am happy with it. After sitting back, watching the lead up to the announcement of nothing and then reflecting on its outcome, I knew it would be at least a day before I could be rational about how not one player was elected.
It's not even that the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) failed to elect anyone that bothers me. I mean, it's happened before. The last time it happened (1996) I was a senior in high school. In all, this is the eighth time in voting history no one has been elected.
More than anything, it is the voters who send in blank ballots as a protest that irritates me. If you don't think anyone is worthy, don't send in a ballot. That way you are not hurting those on the ballot. A blank ballot counts as a negative vote against everyone.
Luckily this year there were only five voters who sent in blank ballots. Howard Bryant of ESPN, Chris Jenkins of the San Diego Union-Tribune, Jorge Ebro of the Spanish language El Nuevo Herald in Miami, and Mark Faller of the Arizona Republic were four of the five voters who sent in blank ballots. As voters are not required to make their votes public, the name of the fifth blank ballot voter remains a mystery.
However, I am glad to say that there were fewer blank ballots this year (5) than last year (9). With 569 votes cast this year, including the five wasted votes, I am glad to know that those five did not cost anyone an induction. The leading vote getter, Craig Biggio, missed election by 39 votes. So even if the five blanks had listed only Biggio, he still would not have made the cut.
By not electing anyone, the BBWAA made sure that there will be no living players at this year's induction ceremony in July. Yes, the ceremony will still go on, but it will be a lot shorter than in years past.
My hope is that next year Biggio will get the votes he needs to reach the 75 percent requirement. But it is not just Biggio I am rooting for next year. Jack Morris, a four time World Series champion (with three different teams) and the winningest pitcher of the 1980s will be on the ballot for the 15th and final time. Morris received 67 percent of the vote and missed election by 42 votes.
But they aren't the only two. In his first time on the ballot, Mike Piazza got 329 votes. Piazza was 98 votes shy while Jeff Bagwell (59 percent) was 88 votes shy on his third time on the ballot. The only other player to have 50 percent or more of the vote was Tim Raines (52 percent).
I believe all five of those players are Hall of Fame players.
Of course there are other players I would vote for who are still on the ballot. Lee Smith received 47 percent on his 11th try, while Rafael Palmeiro got just 8 percent on his third try. Mark McGwire's totals dropped yet again, this time to 16 percent, while Dale Murphy had just 18 percent in his 15th and final ballot. Sammy Sosa finished his first attempt with 12 percent while fellow tainted slugger Barry Bonds total of 36 percent was lower than a lot of people thought. Pitchers Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling both failed to reach the 40s. Schilling had 38 percent of the vote while Clemens had 37 percent. With all the big names added to this year's ballot, Fred McGriff dropped to 20 percent (from 23) on his fourth try.
In addition to the first five I listed, I believe all nine of these players are Hall of Fame players as well. What will be interesting next year is when the new first year candidates join the 17 total holdovers (Don Mattingly, Larry Walker, Alan Trammel and Edgar Martinez will also return) with another bumper crop of stars.
Among the players on the ballot for the first time next year are starting pitchers Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine, both 300-game winners. Also on the ballot at starting pitcher is Mike Mussina. With 270 wins and seven Gold Gloves, Mussina might not make it his first try, but he should quickly be enshrined.
Second baseman Jeff Kent and first baseman-designated hitter Frank Thomas will also be on the ballot. Kent hit 377 home runs and is tied for 67th all time. He is also the all-time leader in home runs by a second baseman. Frank Thomas is one of just 25 players to hit over 500 home runs. Thomas finished his career with 521, good for a tie at 20th all time.
With voters limited to a maximum of 10 players, a voter could almost fill two separate ballots on players who should be in the Hall of Fame. So get ready, if you thought this year was crazy with no elections, it is entirely possible that we could see the most players ever elected at one time next year.
There is even a chance some big name players could be dropped from future ballots altogether after next year's election because they might not receive enough support due to how many legitimate candidates will be on the ballot in 2014. Looking at the ballot myself, I see 18 players whom I consider worthy of Hall of Fame induction (Bagwell, Biggio, Bonds, Clemens, Glavine, Kent, Maddux, McGriff, McGwire, Morris, Mussina, Palmeiro, Piazza, Raines, Schilling, Smith, Sosa and Thomas).
Let me be clear: Yes, steroids are bad. But so are greenies (amphetamines), and there are plenty of Hall of Famers that used them in the 1950s/1960s/1970s. Greenies were used as performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) back then the way steroids were in the 1990s and early 2000s. Players who used greenies weren't barred, so why should players who used steroids?
On a final note. I have heard plenty of talk saying the way the Hall of Famers are elected is old and out of date.
People have said if president of the United States can win an election with just 53 percent of the vote, why does the Hall need 75 percent to gain election?
Others have said the BBWAA should not be the only ones to vote. There has been a mention of allowing broadcasters and baseball historians to vote. Even though broadcasters are team employees (writers are not), I could get behind allowing career broadcasters like Vin Scully vote. People like Scully know a lot more and have seen a lot more than most ever will.
But, at the same time, I am completely against allowing former Major League players turned broadcasters like Ken "Hawk" Harrelson to have a vote.
Harrelson is one of the biggest and most annoying "homers" covering the game today. He would be a completely biased voter and turn the process into a circus the same way he does as a White Sox broadcaster.
Remember, whether you like the players or not, this is the Hall of Fame. It is a museum dedicated to the history of the game. History is both good and bad. We can't block out a whole generation of players because they did something wrong. If that was the case, then we would need to kick out players who used greenies and there are several Hall of Famers like Goose Gossage who have admitted to using greenies. And if we are going to do that, let's not forget about pre-integration. When Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner and others were playing, they were not playing against the best because part of the best had the wrong skin color and were not allowed to play. Yet, those players are in the Hall of Fame as well.


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"It's an urban legend that the government launched the Internet," writes L. Gordon Crovitz in Monday's Wall Street Journal, launching into just one of a myriad of problems with his short opinion piece.
While he concedes that the military's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) program funded the creation of the ARPAnet, the first large-scale packet-switched network, he argues that the government doesn't deserve credit for the creation of the Internet:
If the government didn't invent the Internet, who did? Vinton Cerf developed the TCP/IP protocol, the Internet's backbone, and Tim Berners-Lee gets credit for hyperlinks.
But full credit goes to the company where [Robert Taylor] worked after leaving ARPA: Xerox. It was at the Xerox PARC labs in Silicon Valley in the 1970s that the Ethernet was developed to link different computer networks. Researchers there also developed the first personal computer (the Xerox Alto) and the graphical user interface that still drives computer usage today.
Crovitz is right that Vinton Cerf, along with Bob Kahn, invented the TCP/IP protocol that is the foundation of the modern Internet. But he neglects to mention that Cerf's early work on the protocol was funded by the US military through its DARPA program.
"Hyperlinks" are not the Internet, and Tim Berners-Lee didn't invent them. Nor is the World Wide Web the Internet, although the Web has become such a popular Internet application that many people confuse the two. But more to the point, Berners-Lee was working at CERN, a research organization funded by European governments, when he invented the World Wide Web in the early 1990s.
Xerox is indeed a private company, and Xerox PARC researchers did develop some important computing technologies, including Ethernet and the graphical user interface. But it's not accurate to say that "the Ethernet was developed to link different computer networks." Ethernet was designed primarily as a local networking technology to connect computers in a home or office. The point of the Internet's TCP/IP protocol was to allow networks using different standards, including Ethernet, to communicate with each other. Many of the networks that now comprise the Internet use the Ethernet protocol, but what makes the Internet the Internet is TCP/IP, not Ethernet.
Indeed, not only is Crovitz confused about the origins of the Internet, he also seems not to understand the conventions of the World Wide Web. He quotes George Mason University economist Tyler Cowen as saying that "The Internet, in fact, reaffirms the basic free market critique of large government." But that quote wasn't written by Cowen. It was quoted by Cowen in a 2005 blog post. The page Cowen was quoting has succumbed to bitrot, but the Internet Archive has a copy.
The Wall Street Journal has earned a reputation for producing in-depth and meticulously fact-checked news coverage. Unfortunately, it doesn't always apply that same high standard of quality to their editorial page.


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Over the Counter: A urinary tract infection can be prevented
The razor-sharp pain and burning of a urinary tract infection is often unbearable. While the urgency might send you running to the restroom, what's even more troubling is that urinary tract infections have a tendency to be recurring.
For those who are prone to urinary infections, there are many natural ways to promote urinary health and help prevent infection.
Cranberry juice concentrate — the very bitter form of pure cranberry juice — and cranberry extract in capsule form, are excellent remedies to help fight infection and promote a healthy urinary system. Pure cranberry juice and cranberry extract coat the lining of the urinary tract and bladder to help flush out bad bacteria. It's wise to avoid cranberry juice with added sugar, which may augment symptoms.
Sugar and white flour make the body more acidic — which enhances the growth of bacteria and causes inflammation. This not only makes the infection worse, but can exacerbate minor inflammation in the urinary tract and make urination more painful.
There is one form of sugar that actually helps stop a urinary infection. D-Mannose, a supplement available in capsule and powder form, also coats the urinary tract lining and helps to flush out the bad bacteria. It's also a low glycemic sugar which doesn't stay in the bloodstream and therefore doesn't raise blood sugar in the body.
A natural remedy for people with a current urinary tract infection is a combination blend of uva ursi, berberine, marshmallow root, bladderwrack and celery seed. To prevent a urinary tract infection from happening in the first place, take a multistrain probiotic with 12 to 14 strains of beneficial bacteria. The probiotic should be kept refrigerated and should be purchased that way.
When buying any probiotics, vitamins or supplements, always purchase a brand that uses third-party testing to verify the purity and quality of their product.
Additionally, a daily herbal blend of cranberry concentrate, dandelion leaf extract and hibiscus flower extract can also be used to prevent a urinary tract infection.
The herbal remedies, probiotics and D-Mannose can be taken with an antibiotic to complement the treatment. It's important to note that if you have a urinary tract infection, you must see your physician or health care provider. Urinary tract infections can lead to kidney infections if untreated and in some cases can lead to a life-threatening blood infection in the body.
Pregnant women have to be especially careful of developing a urinary tract infection, which is more likely to travel to the kidneys and could lead to pre-term labor.
The elderly are also more susceptible to urinary tract infections because of urinary incontinence and not being able to fully empty their bladder. It's important to note that elderly individuals with a urinary tract infection often present with much different symptoms than a younger adult and may have confusion, fatigue, weakness, muscle aches and abdominal pain.
Typical symptoms of a urinary tract infection for younger adults include painful urination, urgency and frequent urination, and cloudy, dark or bloody urine. If you have a fever, back pain or pain in your side below the ribs, or any nausea or vomiting, that could indicate a kidney infection and medical treatment should be sought.
There are some simple steps to keep the urinary tract healthy. Drink water throughout the day to help flush out bacteria. To stay hydrated, drink the amount of water in ounces that is equivalent to half of your body weight. This means a man who weighs 180 pounds should drink 90 ounces of water. This does not apply to a person on a fluid restriction who must limit the amount of fluids they consume.
It's best to avoid caffeine, which irritates the bladder, and alcohol, which acts as a diuretic and can increase urgency and frequency. Antihistamines found in cold and allergy medicines can cause urinary retention, which may lead to an infection.
While both males and females experience urinary tract infections, women are more susceptible because they have a smaller urethra, which makes it easier for bacteria to enter the urinary tract.
Women can prevent urinary tract infections by wearing 100-percent cotton underwear and wiping front to back to prevent bacteria from coming in contact with the urethra. Many women react to dyes in toilet paper and feminine products. There are unscented and unbleached toilet paper, sanitary napkins and pantyliners available to help avoid irritation. It's also helpful to urinate before and after sexual intercourse to get rid of bacteria.
Menopausal women have a higher risk of developing urinary tract infections. When estrogen levels drop during menopause, the outermost layer of skin in the urethra and bladder begins to thin and loses its protective nature against infection. A health care provider can prescribe a bioidentical estrogen replacement therapy to replace estrogen in the body during menopause. A compounding pharmacist can then compound a bioidentical estrogen therapy that is tailored to the individual patient and replicates natural estrogen produced by the body. Bioidentical estrogen therapy is available in a cream, which is applied vaginally to target the affected area.
There are also natural lubricants available to help alleviate dryness and combat any bad bacteria or yeast that comes in contact with the urethra. Look for a lubricant with Calendula Flower, Pine Resin and Canadian Balsam Fir.
As we age, urinary incontinence can become another issue altogether. Luckily there are exercises called Kegels, which can be performed anytime, anywhere. Kegels strengthen your pelvic floor muscles that support the bladder and prevent leaking. While squeezing these muscles is beneficial, this should not be done during urination, which can lead to a urinary tract infection.
Men can also do Kegels to prevent urinary incontinence and treat incontinence related to prostate issues. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), is an enlarged prostate that can obstruct urinary flow if it becomes too swollen and may also cause incontinence. BPH does not increase the risk of prostate cancer.
To support prostate and urinary health, men can take an herbal blend of saw palmetto, pygeum bark and beta-sitosterol. A blend of zinc and selenium is also beneficial.
If you are having any difficulty starting your urinary stream or experiencing a slow stream or urinary incontinence, you should see your physician or health care provider. Other signs to be aware of are straining when urinating, blood in urine or semen or bone pain and tenderness in the lower back or pelvic bones, which may be an indication of prostate cancer.
For men and women, a healthy urinary tract is important to overall health. Remember to take good care of yourself, drink plenty of water, and eat a balanced diet to give your body the nutrients it needs to prevent infection and maintain optimum health.
Steve Bernardi is a compounding pharmacist and Dr. Gary Kracoff is a registered pharmacist and a naturopathic doctor at Johnson Compounding and Wellness Center in Waltham, Mass. (www.naturalcompounder.com). Readers with questions about natural or homeopathic medicine, compounded medications, or health in general can email firstname.lastname@example.com or call 781-893-3870.